Published on:- 7/2/25 [Friday]
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🌹To all my readers,
Happy Rose Day🌹

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A sleek black car stopped in front of Khanna Mansion and its powerful engine hummed before falling silent.

The grand mansion loomed ahead, its towering presence unshaken, just like the angelic man who had grown up within its walls.

The car door opened, and Nilay stepped out first, adjusting his sleeves with his usual composed air.

A second later, Sunaina followed as her sharp eyes were scanning the mansion she had stepped into countless times before.

They moved toward the entrance, but just as they reached the doorstep, Sunaina halted. She stood still while her gaze darkened as lips were pressing into a thin line.

She wasn’t lost in thought - no, she was plotting.

'How should I torment him today?', she mused, tapping her nails against her palm.

Him--- Nilay's father, Neil Khanna. The man who always found a way to interfere, to come between her and her husband.

Before she could dive deeper into her delicious schemes, she felt a sudden warmth. Nilay had entwined his fingers with hers as his grip was firm yet familiar.

Sunaina blinked and looked at him, shaking her head as if to dismiss her thoughts. But the slight smirk playing on her lips remained.

Nilay said nothing, just arched a brow. He knew that look. He knew exactly what kind of trouble was brewing in the devilish mind of his wife.

Without a word, they stepped forward, entering the mansion together.

The moment they did, Aashmaan came into view.

Her eyes lit up instantly, a wide smile stretching across her face. With an excited gasp, she opened her arms and ran straight toward them, her joy spilling into the air.

"Oh, my baby!" Aashmaan exclaimed as she hurried toward them and her arms were wide open.

Nilay took a step forward as his arms were slightly open and was expecting his mother’s embrace.

But to his surprise, Aashmaan walked right past him while her eyes were locked on Sunaina instead.

Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around her daughter-in-law, pulling her into a warm, tight embrace.

Sunaina blinked and was momentarily caught off guard. But then, a slow smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.

'Oh?', She glanced sideways at Nilay, who stood there, arms still slightly open, frozen in disbelief.

Biting back a laugh, she effortlessly melted into Aashmaan’s embrace, placing her hands lightly on her mother-in-law’s back.

Nilay cleared his throat, "Mom?"

Aashmaan finally pulled back, cupping Sunaina’s face with affection. "My dear, you look tired. Is my son troubling you too much?".

Aashmaan teased, brushing a stray strand of hair behind Sunaina’s ear.

Sunaina cast a sideways glance at Nilay, her smirk deepening. "Oh, Mom, you have no idea."

Nilay groaned while running a hand through his hair.

"Unbelievable," he muttered, shaking his head as he shut his open arms and crossed them over his chest.

Sunaina just gave him a triumphant look. If she hadn’t already been planning to torment his father today, she definitely was now.

"You look thin," Aashmaan said, her brows knitting together in concern as she held Sunaina at arm’s length, scanning her from head to toe.

Sunaina tilted her head, amusement flashing in her eyes.

'Thin? If only you knew the reason behind it -- her dear son had kept me quite… busy'.

Before Sunaina could respond, Nilay scoffed from the side, crossing his arms.

"Mom, are you serious? I am here as well. Are you not going to hug me?",  Nilay said and Sunaina shot him a teasing smirk before turning back to Aashmaan with an exaggerated sigh.

Aashmaan gasped, swatting Nilay’s arm. "Nilay! You are not five years old and let me take care of my daughter first"

Nilay’s jaw dropped, "Your... what? Mom, she is my wife!"

Aashmaan waved a dismissive hand. "And she is my daughter first."

Sunaina smirked, resting her head on Aashmaan’s shoulder, enjoying every bit of Nilay’s frustration. If she had known being with Aashmaan would annoy him this much, she would have done it sooner.

Nilay exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face. "This is ridiculous."

Sunaina turned her face slightly, meeting his gaze with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "What’s wrong, darling? Feeling left out?"

Nilay narrowed his eyes at her. 'Oh, she was going to pay for this later'.

Just as Sunaina was basking in the warmth of Aashmaan’s affection, a sharp scoff cut through the moment.

Neil Khanna stood a few steps away, arms crossed over his chest, an unimpressed look on his face. His sharp eyes flickered between his wife and Sunaina, clear disapproval in his gaze.

"Love Baby Aashmaan! You didn’t even look at our son, but you are embracing her like she is your long-lost child", Neil said while shaking his head.

Sunaina who was still wrapped in Aashmaan’s arms, turned her head slightly, meeting Neil’s gaze.

And then she smirked. A slow, deliberate curve of her lips that held nothing but amusement.

'Oh, this is perfect', Sunaina thought.

"Well, Dad. It’s not my fault your wife prefers me over you and your son too." Sunaina drawled, resting her chin on Aashmaan’s shoulder.

Neil’s scowl deepened, "Don’t test me, girl.

Sunaina tilted her head, her smirk widening. Nilay read Sunaina's eyes and sighed heavily as he rubbed his temples and pleaded, "Naina, please."

But Sunaina was having far too much fun. She turned back to Aashmaan with a soft, innocent look. "Mom, do you hear how mean your husband is to me?"

Aashmaan sighed dramatically, giving Neil a pointed look. "Neil, stop picking on my daughter."

Neil scoffed again while throwing his hands in the air. "Unbelievable."

Sunaina let out a low chuckle, satisfied. The day had just begun, and she was already winning.

With a victorious smile still playing on her lips, Sunaina finally stepped back from Aashmaan while slipping her hand into Nilay’s as they all walked toward the grand hall of Khanna Mansion.

Just as they settled in, footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Chase, Nishma, and Amruta entered the hall and their expressions shifted the moment they spotted Nilay and Sunaina.

Chase, always the composed one, gave a knowing smirk as his sharp eyes moved between Sunaina, Nilay and Neil - His Devil father-in-law.

Nishma, the ever-watchful elder sister, raised a brow and had already sensed the tension in the air.

And then there was Amruta- Nilay’s niece, the youngest among them. Her eyes lit up with excitement the moment she saw Sunaina.

"Aunt!" Amruta squealed, rushing forward.

Sunaina barely had a second to react before Amruta threw herself into her arms, hugging her tightly.

Nilay sighed, shaking his head. "Of course. Another one."

Chase let out a low chuckle. "Nilay, it looks like your own family prefers your wife over you."

Sunaina smirked, patting Amrita’s head. "What can I say? I am just that lovable."

Neil, still annoyed from earlier, let out a scoff. "Lovable? More like dangerous."

Sunaina turned her sharp gaze toward him. "Oh, you have no idea, Dad."

The room went silent for a second before Nishma sighed, taking a seat. "Alright, what’s the chaos this time?"

Sunaina casually glanced around the room, her sharp eyes taking in each person before she spoke in a smooth and confident voice.

"Oh, by the way, I’m throwing a party tomorrow."

Nilay turned to her with mild surprise, "A party?"

She nodded, her lips curling into a smirk, "Yes. To introduce my husband and his family… to my family."

The moment the words left her mouth, silence fell over the room.

Then, a mocking scoff broke it.

Neil Khanna who was seated comfortably with one leg crossed over the other, leaned forward slightly, his lips twisting into an amused smirk.

"Aah! Your family? Where do they come from? Aren’t you an orphan?", Neil repeated and sarcasm was dripping from his voice.

He tilted his head, feigning curiosity.

Nilay’s jaw clenched immediately. "Dad!" he said in a low low. Aashmaan threw sharp daggers at Neil. Chase and Nishma looked at Sunaina who didn’t flinch but her smirk only deepened.

She turned to Neil while her gaze locked onto his like a predator watching its prey.

"Oh, you are absolutely right, Dad. I was an orphan.", She stretched out the word mockingly.

She took a step forward, her presence alone commanding attention.

"But the thing about people like me?. We build our own family", She leaned slightly toward him, voice lowering to a dangerous whisper.

Neil’s smirk faltered for just a second.

Sunaina straightened up, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "And trust me, when you meet my family, you’ll wish you never asked."

The room was thick with tension and everyone watched the exchange in stunned silence.

Nilay exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. He knew this was just the beginning.

Beginning to handle the two devils in the Khanna mansion.

Aashmaan let out a sharp breath, stepping closer to Neil with a firm glare.

"Your words are hurtful, Neil. When will you stop hurting her?", Her voice was filled with disappointment.

Neil scoffed, looking away as if her words meant nothing.

"I'm just stating facts," Neil muttered.

Aashmaan’s eyes hardened, "Facts? Or your own stubborn pride?"

The room went silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Aashmaan took a deep breath before adding, "I told you, she is a member of our family now. She’s Nilay’s wife. My daughter. If you won’t stop acting like this, then I will go to Mumbai and live with my big brothers."

The entire room tensed.

Neil’s head snapped up at her words, his eyes narrowing.

"Aashmaan, don’t be ridiculous."

But she didn’t back down. "I mean it, Neil. I will leave and you know this as well."

Her expression was unwavering.

Nilay, who had been silent, finally sighed and rubbed his temples. "Mom…"

Sunaina who was still watching the drama unfold, tilted her head slightly, amusement glinting in her eyes.

'Oh, this is getting interesting', She thought.

Neil clenched his jaw, glaring at his wife. He knew she wasn’t bluffing.

Silence stretched between them before he finally let out a frustrated exhale.

"Fine! Do whatever you want", he muttered begrudgingly, his pride taking a hit.

Aashmaan gave him a final look before turning to Sunaina, gently squeezing her hand in reassurance.

Sunaina’s smirk widened as she glanced at Neil, enjoying the tension in the air. Then, with a casual shrug, she said,

"Then tomorrow evening, be ready to join me for the party".

Chase leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "Where is the venue?".

Without hesitation, Sunaina replied, "The Empire Hotel".

The moment the name left her lips, the room tensed. Neil’s expression shifted from skepticism to pure shock. Even Nilay looked at her with surprise.

"The Empire?", Neil repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. His brows furrowed as he studied her, as if trying to figure out if she was joking. "Are you serious? Do you even know what kind of place that is?".

Sunaina’s gaze remained steady. "Of course, I know".

Nishma said, "The Empire is the most luxurious and expensive hotel in the city. It’s always booked months in advance! Even top industrialists struggle to get a reservation. How did you manage to book it?".

Neil narrowed his eyes.

Sunaina tilted her head, her smirk never wavering. "Because I know the owner".

Silence.

Neil blinked, his expression shifting from shock to wariness. "What?".

Nilay who was still trying to process her words, asked, "You… know the owner?".

Sunaina gave a slow, deliberate nod. "Yes. The owner is my client".

Neil clenched his jaw, clearly unsettled by the revelation. "Client? What kind of client?".

Sunaina’s eyes gleamed with mischief as she replied, "You will find out soon enough".

Sunaina turned to Aashmaan with a confident smile.

"And yeah, Mom, there is something I want to tell you about myself", Sunaina said and Aashmaan looked at her with curiosity. "What is it, Naina?".

Sunaina’s smirk deepened as she crossed her arms. "Mom! Actually! I am a businesswoman".

Nilay took a sharp breath at her word 'Businesswoman'. Only he knew what kind of business she did.

Aashmaan blinked in surprise before a proud smile spread across her face. "A businesswoman? So wonderful. That's like my daughter".

Neil who was still processing the earlier conversation about 'The Empire Hotel', scoffed. "And what kind of business do you run?".

Sunaina turned to him, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "One that can afford The Empire Hotel for a private event".

Neil’s smirk faltered, and Nilay couldn’t help but chuckle and the next moment, got a cold look from his father. Nilay's cheeks turned red in embarrassment as he looked down quickly.

Aashmaan, ignoring her husband’s reaction, took Sunaina’s hands in hers. "I am so proud of you, Naina".

Sunaina smiled, squeezing her hands gently. "Thank you, Mom. Just don’t expect me to be the traditional daughter-in-law who stays home all day".

Nilay, Nishma, Chase and Neil were staring at the dramatic Sunaina.

Aashmaan laughed. "With your personality? I never expected that anyway".

Aashmaan looked at Sunaina with curiosity, tilting her head slightly. "But I want to know what kind of business you have?"

Sunaina smirked, clearly enjoying the attention.

"Oh, Mom! My company's name is Scorpion", she said playfully, then leaned in slightly as if sharing a secret.

The room went completely silent.

However Neil's expression hardened. Chase raised an eyebrow. Nishma's eyes narrowed down. Even Nilay who had been relaxed, turned to look at his wife with surprise.

The name Scorpion tingled in their brains as they listened to Sunaina carefully but they were unable to grasp the hidden meaning behind her words.

Sunaina continued as she was unfazed by their reactions.

"It’s an export-import business, and my position is… second in command" She paused for dramatic effect before finishing with a smirk.

Neil's brows furrowed deeply as he thought but loudly, "Second in command? What kind of title is that?".

Sunaina turned to him and her smirk was never fading. "The kind that makes powerful men bow their heads, Dad."

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